Water quality recommendations on this page are informational. Test results vary by location. Contact your state health department or a certified lab for guidance specific to your water supply.
WELL WATER TESTING
Well Water Testing Near Me: How to Find a Certified Lab in Your State
About 15 million US households get their water from a private well. The EPA does not test those wells. You are responsible for your own water safety.
Last reviewed: May 2026
Why you need to test your well
Public water goes through daily testing by the utility. Private wells do not. There is no automatic monitoring, no annual report sent to your mailbox, no alert if something changes.
Contamination can happen slowly and silently. A nearby farm, an old septic system, or industrial runoff can change your water without any visible sign. You cannot smell PFAS. You cannot taste arsenic.
The EPA 2027 PFAS rule gives public water systems new monitoring obligations. Private well owners get nothing. That makes testing your own responsibility now more than ever.
What to test for
| Contaminant | How often | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Bacteria / coliform | Every year | Fast-moving health risk. Changes after heavy rain. |
| Nitrates | Every year | Leaches from fertilizer and septic. Dangerous for infants. |
| PFAS | Every 3 years (minimum) | New EPA 2027 rule sets 4 ppt limit. Test now for a baseline. |
| pH and hardness | Every 3 years | Changes slowly. Affects plumbing and filter performance. |
| Arsenic | Once on a new well, then every 5 years | Geological. Stable over time. |
| Lead | Once on a new well | Plumbing concern, especially in older homes. |
How to find a certified lab
There are three ways to find a lab that meets EPA standards for your state.
1. Call the EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline
Call 1-800-426-4791 (Monday to Friday, 10 am to 4 pm ET). They can refer you to your state's certification officer and provide local lab lists.
2. Check your state health department
Every state maintains a list of labs certified under the NELAP or state-equivalent program. Search "[your state] certified water testing laboratory" plus the state agency name.
3. Use SimpleLab (national mail-in)
SimpleLab at mytapscore.com ships a sterile collection kit to your door. Mail it back, get results in 7 to 14 days. Their labs hold EPA certifications across all 50 states.
What well water testing costs
| Test type | Cost range |
|---|---|
| Basic bacteria + nitrate | $75 to $150 |
| PFAS panel (certified) | $150 to $300 |
| Full water quality panel | $200 to $400 |
| Annual retesting | $150 to $250 |
Some state programs offer free or subsidized testing for low-income households. Check with your county health department.
Why 2026 is the right time to test
In April 2024, the EPA finalized the first-ever federal limits on PFAS in drinking water. PFOA and PFOS must now be below 4 parts per trillion in public systems. Public utilities have until 2027 to comply.
Private wells are not covered by the rule. But the EPA's 4 ppt limit now gives you a benchmark. If your well shows 10 ppt or 20 ppt, you know something is wrong even without a legal mandate.
Testing now also gives you a baseline. If contamination increases over the next few years, you will have data to prove it.
Find testing services by state
Below are notes on state programs and lab access. All states have NELAP-certified labs; these notes flag local programs, known contamination risks, and state-specific resources.
Group 1
California (CA)
The State Water Resources Control Board maintains a list of accredited labs at waterboards.ca.gov. California has some of the most active PFAS monitoring in the country, especially near military bases in the Central Valley.
Texas (TX)
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) posts a searchable lab database at tceq.texas.gov. Private well owners near agricultural areas should prioritize nitrates alongside PFAS.
Florida (FL)
Florida DEP certifies labs under the NELAP program. Search at dep.state.fl.us. Wells near citrus-growing regions often show elevated nitrates. Coastal wells may show saltwater intrusion.
New York (NY)
NYSDOH maintains an Environmental Laboratory Approval Program (ELAP) list. New York has active PFAS monitoring near older industrial sites in the Hudson Valley and Long Island.
Pennsylvania (PA)
PA DEP certifies labs statewide. Penn State Extension also runs the Water Testing Laboratory, one of the most affordable options in the Northeast at around $100 for a comprehensive panel.
Ohio (OH)
Ohio Department of Health certifies labs through the Environmental Laboratory Certification Program. Well owners near manufacturing corridors in northeast Ohio should include PFAS in their panel.
Illinois (IL)
IDPH certifies drinking water labs statewide. University of Illinois Extension offers well water testing at competitive rates. Agricultural areas warrant annual nitrate checks.
Michigan (MI)
EGLE (Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy) runs active PFAS monitoring and has tested thousands of private wells near contaminated sites. Check the EGLE PFAS Response website for site-specific data before testing.
North Carolina (NC)
NC DHHS certifies labs and runs a Private Well Program. GenX contamination near Fayetteville has made PFAS testing especially important for wells in Cumberland and Bladen counties.
Georgia (GA)
Georgia EPD certifies labs. Residents in the Metro Atlanta fringe should test for both bacteria and nitrates. The GreenLaw nonprofit tracks PFAS sites statewide.
Group 2
Washington (WA)
Washington State Department of Health certifies labs and offers a well water safety guide. Western WA wells are more common than eastern ones; arsenic is a concern in some eastern regions.
Massachusetts (MA)
MassDEP certifies labs under NELAP. Massachusetts has mandatory PFAS monitoring for public systems and tracks contamination near military bases, but private well testing is still voluntary.
New Jersey (NJ)
NJDEP certifies labs and New Jersey has adopted PFAS limits stricter than federal EPA rules. If you are near a Superfund site in NJ, your county may offer subsidized testing.
Virginia (VA)
Virginia DEQ maintains a lab list. The Virginia Cooperative Extension offers affordable testing partnerships through several universities. PFAS near military installations is a known concern.
Arizona (AZ)
ADEQ certifies labs. Arsenic is a major concern in Arizona well water due to natural geology. Include arsenic and fluoride in your panel alongside bacteria and nitrates.
Minnesota (MN)
MDH runs a well water protection program and offers testing guidance. Coliform contamination from livestock is common in agricultural areas. MDH has free resources for private well owners.
Wisconsin (WI)
Wisconsin DNR certifies labs and runs WI Well Water Quality program. Nitrate contamination from dairy farming affects many rural wells. Annual nitrate testing is strongly recommended.
Colorado (CO)
CDPHE certifies labs. Colorado's Front Range has seen PFAS contamination near several Air Force bases. Residents in Adams, Weld, and El Paso counties should add PFAS to their panel.
Maryland (MD)
MDE certifies labs. The Chesapeake Bay watershed means agriculture-related nitrates are common in rural county wells. Some Eastern Shore counties have subsidy programs for testing.
Indiana (IN)
IDEM certifies labs. Indiana has significant agricultural activity; nitrates and bacteria testing is the first priority for most well owners. Add PFAS if you are near industrial parks.
Frequently asked questions
How often should I test my well water?
Test for bacteria and nitrates every year. Test for PFAS every three years at minimum, or sooner if a contamination notice affects your area. Get a full panel when you move into a new home.
What does well water testing cost?
A basic bacteria and nitrate test runs $75 to $150. A PFAS panel costs $150 to $300. A full water quality test covering 50+ contaminants runs $200 to $400. Many state health departments offer subsidized testing.
Does the EPA test private wells?
No. The EPA Safe Drinking Water Act covers public water systems only. If you are on a private well, testing is your responsibility. Your county or state health department may offer guidance but does not test your well for you.
How do I get my well water tested for PFAS?
Order a mail-in test from a certified lab like SimpleLab (mytapscore.com) or contact your state health department for a list of approved local labs. For PFAS you need a lab certified under EPA Method 533 or 537.1. Basic strip tests do not detect PFAS.